NATCHEZ — Consultant and former Natchez city planner Phil Walker shared the fundamentals of city planning Wednesday at the Carriage House during the weekly Rotary Club meeting.

Walker said he spends much of his time listening to the public about needs and wants when dealing with city planning issues.

Walker said public engagement is a critical foundation for any good plan because it conveys transparency and builds public trust.

“In some communities you hire consultants to do a plan and they do it, but they just don’t talk to the public about it,” Walker said. “It’s up to the (city planners) to hear what the community wants and how to respond accordingly. That way, not only does the plan accurately reflect what the community wants, but it can be supported because people will have a sense of ownership.”

Following the meeting, Walker commended Natchez City Planner Frankie Legaux’s work.

“Our meetings are open to the public and we do everything we can do to get the word out about changes that are taking place,” Legaux said.

Legaux said Walker’s presentation was informative and significant to the work she does for the city.

“It’s right down my planning alley,” Legaux said. “(Walker) covered everything I learned in planning.”

Walker covered potential planning initiatives for Natchez, which included the downtown bluff area and Martin Luther King Road and Franklin Street area.

The potential objective of the bluff area would be to rehab existing historic buildings and diverse mixtures of land uses, Walker said.

“My idea for the bluff is to enhance it more,” Walker said. “It can get some infill development and new businesses.”

Walker touched base on developing potential themes such as African American and civil rights history, blues music and the Rhythm Night Club fire on Martin Luther King Road and Franklin Street.

“It’s a decision for thousands of heritage tourists annually, but they have a high expectation for authenticity and historic character,” Walker said.